Blackwater Diving Reveals Pelagic Zooplankton: Peacock Mantis Shrimp Larva, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia - stock photo

Plankton plays a vital role in marine ecosystems. Blackwater diving is an exhilarating underwater activity that takes place in the open ocean at night, offering a unique opportunity to photograph zooplankton and other pelagic creatures. The goal is to capture delicate creatures as they ascend from the deep in a nightly migration. In the larval phase, Mantis Shrimps are pelagic. Later it's time to move to the reef. This larva of a Peacock Mantis Shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus was encountered in the Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. 1°28'51.636 N 125°14'37.95 E at 4m depth